SRINAGAR: The family members of Syed Ali Geelani on Monday said that “repeated, fabricated letters, posts, comments and imaginary stories” issued in the name of the ailing Hurriyat leader were affecting his health badly.
In a statement, the family said, Geelani is in advanced age with multiple ailments. “He needs round the clock medical as well as personal attention. Geelani throughout his life faced hardships, both physically and mentally, for his beliefs and convection. His recent health condition has stressed people especially his family. Therefore, it is time to give him some amount of relaxation and his family, a space to attend him in a better position at this critical juncture. Health condition of Geelani demands family to be careful, focussed and attentive, more so amid the pandemic,” they said.
“Geelani is a public and political figure and everyone reserves a right to be concerned about his personal as well as political status. The prime responsibility of his close family is to attend him. We will keep the people updated regarding his health and his representative, Abdullah Gilani, will respond and react to his political issues,” they added.
“Past few months have been very hard for all of us. On one hand, we are busy dealing with his health condition and we have been consumed physically as well as mentally. On the other hand, continuously dragging the family into his political affairs has taken a heavy toll on our personal as well as domestic life,” said the family.
“It is unfortunate that people with vested interests have launched a vicious campaign to malign the stature of Geelani. Repeated and fabricated letters in his name, posts, comments and imaginary stories is disturbing him and affecting his health very badly. The unnecessary social media campaigns and hounding of the family only adds to our already stressful life,” family members in a statement said.
The family urged all including those in media fraternity or otherwise not to circulate any information about his health, and similarly, any communication of political nature on his behalf without his representative’s authentication.
“We humbly request and appeal people to pray for a speedy recovery and long life of Geelani,” said the family in a statement.
